Carbon County Commission gets HUD approval to use $2.85 million on Ridge Road

Carbon County has the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to spend a $2.85 million federal grant on road infrastructure on Ridge Road, county staff member Shanny Wilson told the Carbon County Commission at its Oct. 7 meeting ^[1][3].

Wilson said the county received the community project funding grant in 2024 through then-Congressman John Curtis's office to support land acquisition on Ridge Road. She said the county later learned of significant HUD restrictions on the land, resale of the land and eligible uses, and decided not to accept the funding at the time. In 2025, she said, HUD asked why the county had not accepted it and said the money could still be used if it stayed within the same project area. The county sent a letter asking to use it for roads instead, was approved to pursue the funding, and set the project up in HUD's reporting system. The county learned the week before the meeting that it had the green light, Wilson said ^[1][3].

Commissioner Larry Jensen said the money will let the county build a road from Ridge Road into its industrial parks. The item was an update, and the commission took no vote on it ^[1][3].

The commission voted 3-0 on a series of other items. It ratified a $200,000 Rural County Grant from the Governor's Office of Economic Development for local business growth, and approved a $143,300 2027 co-op marketing grant agreement with the Utah Office of Tourism, plus an agreement with Visa U.S.A. Inc. for tourism data, supported by a 50 percent match of up to $5,000 from the state tourism office ^[2][3].

The commissioners approved a Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation off-highway vehicle grant of about $230,000 for continued improvements to the Carbon County Motocross Track. A presenter said it was the third round of grant funding the county had applied for and been approved for through the state recreation office. They also approved a $330-a-month-per-location vault toilet maintenance agreement with Toilets To Go of Utah, LLC for sites including Nine Mile Canyon. Two other items were an addendum adding WPRA breakaway roping to the county rodeo contract with All In Pro Rodeo LLC and an application to the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program for 10 vests for the Sheriff's Office ^[2][3].

Sitting as the Board of Equalization, the commission approved 35 property value changes recommended by the assessor, excluding one hearing. It accepted two late appeals because of verified factual errors and denied five others filed after the Sept. 15 deadline ^[2][3].